Discovery (Hybrid Book 1) (18 page)

With that goal in mind, she restricted her conversation to questions about the food, which he answered politely although he seemed a little distracted. Unfortunately, the atmosphere became noticeably tenser as the meal ended. Both of them were trying to hold on to the pleasant breakfast, but she knew they had to leave this bubble of fantasy.

“Are you taking me back to the embassy now?”

“I think we need to have a talk,” he said, rising from his chair and offering her his hand. For the first time since she’d arrived, she saw a pair of green uniformed guards walking through the entrance hall. Both men nodded to Tenset, who returned the gesture.

He led her to a small office off the main entrance to the building. Instead of sitting at the large desk, Tenset indicated the small green sofa, and they sat down. He truly doesn’t look comfortable about this, she thought. If he’s that worried about what he had to say, she was sure, she wasn’t going to like this one little bit.

“Do you remember what I told you last night about the trouble my people are experiencing?”

He paused for her to nod, before he carried on. “We have a tradition that only those that are healthy, mentally, physically and genetically are suitable to rule. And unfortunately, those that do not fit that category lose the right to rule others.”

At Chesara’s shocked expression, he quickly added, “of course my family and I are beyond such out dated ideas. Although like all other Kalzirians we carry identity cards with a record of our genetic status. Mine proves I’m descended from the leader of the first Kalzirian ruling council.”  He waved a small hard plastic rectangle at her.

She briefly saw an image of his face, but she couldn’t decipher the writing.

“Essentially it means that I’m, by an accident of birth, at the top of Kalzirian society. It makes me a target for social climbers, as my documented genetic status can show healthy ancestors for as long as the colony has been here.”

Things started to click in her head, and anger started to rise.

“Let me get this straight, in Kalzirian society I’m be the bottom of the heap, as I can’t prove a relationship to your ‘founding fathers,’ and I’m not even fully human.” Maybe he’s expecting me to get down on my knees and kiss this idiot’s feet for even talking to me, let alone ‘doing’ me last night.

“Unfortunately yes,” Tenset replied apologetically. She managed to keep her composure by channelling every ‘diplomatic’ lecture Connor had ever given her. Flying off the handle would certainly disrupt the flow of information coming her way.

“For the vast majority of our people, you would be treated as the lowest caste, simply for being an off worlders. I can’t imagine the reaction if they knew you weren’t human.”

So much for diplomacy she thought as the words she been thinking, spilled out of her mouth.

“Well as you obviously share these bloody primitive ideas, I suppose I should be thankful your high and fucking mighty ‘Lordship’ took the time to ‘service an animal’ last night.”

Chesara stood and made for the door.  No one had actually admitted to her face that her parentage meant she wasn’t human, although she’d felt the vibes all her life. Having her nose rubbed in it by this stuck up, cocky bastard, someone she’d thought was at least a friend was the last straw. She was embarrassed and hurt, and that made her really, really angry.

A hand reached out to grab her arm, and she pulled violently away. Next thing she knew she was pressed up against a large chest, her arms pinned to her sides.

“Let me go, stronzo. I came here to help you backward mudskippers, not to be insulted and used. Your fucking ruling couple can bloody well get knocked up on their own, I don’t give a shit. Take me back to Connor right now, I’m going home.” The chill and regret in his voice as he replied, knocked all the bluster out of her.

“I’m sorry sweetheart, but I can’t do that. It’s true that I used to feel the same way about ancestry, but now I know you, I know they’re wrong. But even if I hadn’t changed my mind, we’d still need you to do this thing for us. You’ll treat Lord and Lady Harmon. My uncle’s plan is for you to help them conceive a male child. You’ll make sure the boy is perfect at birth, so he is introduced to the population. However, you’ll also make changes to his body, so that soon after he has been introduced as the heir, he’ll develop obvious physical and psychological problems.”

“I’m sorry, I know this goes against your nature, but one child’s life against the well-being of an entire planet is not such a bad deal. The baby doesn’t have to be in pain, just obviously ‘wrong’. Perhaps a weakness in his legs and a severe speak impediment or deafness. The child can still had a long and happy life, but the people won’t accept him as a ruler, or parents who produced him. As the next in line, Tamas will inherit, and I’ll be his successor. We’ll create a new age of prosperity and vigorous health for all the people of Kalzir.”

Chesara just stared at his hopeful face. She thought she’d understood him at least a little in the time they’d been together, how could he think this was a terrific idea, or that she’d even consider doing it?

“This isn’t for me, it was never about me, please believe me. If I thought there was another way, I’d take it in a heartbeat, even if it meant my own life, but there isn’t. My family swore an oath to protect the people of this world, and that’s what we are doing.”

“No. Fucking. Way. Never in a million years will I purposefully hurt a person.” She hoped he could see her resolve in her eyes as she stared up at him.

“Now let me go, or I’ll call the whole fucking might of the Federation down on your poor deranged little heads.”

She heard him sigh as if he didn’t want to say something he had to, and her apprehension rose exponentially. This was spinning way out of control and where the fuck was Connor? She’d been gone for more than two days, despite the plan to return to the embassy after the party at the Palace. Connor should’ve already been banging on that bloody big front door. Her anger at Connor for not preventing this situation drained away as Tenset continued.

“Chesara listen, this isn’t something we’ve just done on the spur of the moment.  We’ve spent many years finding out about you.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “We’ve found out that according to Federation law, you are not a citizen, but a possession.”

A
t her gasp of shock, he held on to her tighter, trying to soften the blow of what he was going to say, simply by physical contact. Her mental pain was like a knife through his soul, but he didn’t have a choice. Even if it were possible to reconcile his long held beliefs with simply running away with her and abandoning his people to their fate. Tamas wouldn’t let that happen. He found having to speak the next words physically painful, but once they were said, and she settled down, he swore he’d give her the best life he could. Certainly not the hidden one of servitude his uncle had proposed as suitable for a person with her lineage.

“Chesara, by Kalzirian law, an animal with no legal owner can be claimed by anyone. Documents that I filed yesterday morning mean I am the legal owner of non-human alien female matching your description.”

The immediate intense pain in his groin gave him a clear idea that she wasn’t entirely happy with the news that he owned her. Good God, it felt as if she’d shoved his balls half way up into his guts. His vision swam, and he collapsed to his knees gasping, trying not to throw up his breakfast.

He waited while his vision cleared, knowing that she couldn’t leave the room. He’d had the foresight to have a guard lock the door behind them.

“Fucking let me out of here, you zalupas!”

He watched from his position on the floor as she pounded on the door, using up most of the expletives he’d already heard, plus a few new ones. He decided that since she wasn’t going to calm down anytime soon, he might as well wait till he recovered a little before tackling his little hellcat again.

“Sweetheart,” he managed to squeak out as he pulled himself sideways up onto the sofa, still cradling his abused crotch.

“Don’t you dare call me that, you fucking slaver. What gives you the right to say you own me? What gives you or the fucking federation the right to call me an animal?”

Maybe she thought screaming at him would get the message across better than physical abuse, but he’d already understood her point most thoroughly. She walked back over to him, having been defeated by the door.

“Listen numb nuts.” She poked him hard in the chest. “You are going to destroy those documents right now, and then you’re going to return me to the embassy. And if you’re nice, and I mean if you’re really,
really
nice, I’ll stop Connor from tearing your stupid, arrogant, retarded, fucking head off!” Her voice had got louder with each insult, until he genuinely worried that he’d be partially deaf for the next few days.

He then decided that he really was being affected by her, because right now, rather than being worried that she’d do him serious damage in his incapacitated state, he was thinking how magnificently sexy she was. Perhaps he should let Connor twist his head off; he was obviously losing his mind. The irony that being mentally ill would mean all their scheming was pointless, almost made him laugh. Almost, but not quite, mainly due to the fact he still felt like throwing up, but it was getting a little better.

If he didn’t subdue her, he knew Tamas would send Melton in with his stun baton, so once his bruised balls weren’t making him feel quite so sick, he made another grab for her.

His theory being, that if he held her tightly enough, there wasn’t a great deal she could do, and he’d be bloody careful that she couldn’t do his crotch any more damage. Hopefully, he’d be able to keep her calm enough to hear the rest of his explanation. Holding on to her tightly again, but with one of her legs firmly trapped between his, he carried on with gritted teeth.

“Chesara, my love, don’t you care about all the people that are suffering here? You could make a real difference to them. I know you’re angry now, but we could have a really good life together. I’d treat you just like a wife. You have to consider that you might already be carrying our child, a new healer for our people. And I’m afraid Connor can’t do anything to help you, he’s locked up downstairs, and if you are difficult, he’ll certainly suffer at the hands of my Uncle. I’m sure if you just give yourself time to think, you’ll agree that your life here will be happy, and you can do so much good for your new people.”

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C
hesara didn’t know what he expected her to say about any of his announcements. that Connor was being held prisoner and would be tortured if she didn’t comply, that he expected her to create deformities in an innocent child, that he hoped he’d made her pregnant with a child he could use for his own purposes, or lastly, that he expected her be happy about the prospect of being treated ‘like’ his wife.

Oh goody, what a big fucking privilege for an animal that would be. At the moment he was holding her so tightly, she couldn’t do anything much, but that was about to change.

She relaxed, look up at him, and gave him a tremulous smile. “You really want to be with me, long term?”

He smiled gently back. “There’s nothing I want more Sweetheart.”

She puckered up, and waited until he lowered his head to her for the apologetic kiss she offered. Then she head butted his nose with all her strength.

He stepped back, with a shout of pain as his hands immediately went to his bleeding nose. Chesara took the opportunity to run for the window, which she hadn’t yet tried. The door certainly wasn’t an option. If she was quick enough, she might be able to find Connor before being caught. Then she’d see how Mr. Fancy Pants stacked up.

Unfortunately, her bid for freedom was finished before it started, at Tenset’s shout of pain, the office door banged open and two large uniformed guards grabbed her arms as she struggled to open the window.

After several well-placed kicks and another head butt, she found herself pinned on the floor with her hands behind her back and her feet restrained. Unable to hurt them physically anymore, she unleashed all her pent up fury, verbally assaulting them, their parents and their whole fucking planet in as many different languages as she knew.

“You sure have a dirty mouth, considering it’s so pretty,” said one guard as she finally started to wind down. She recognized him as the one from the road last night.

“Oh wonderful, zalupa and stronzo are back, I thought you two only picked up horse crap,” she shot at the two guards, physically exhausted.  One of them laughed before running a hand up her thigh.

“Keep your filthy hands to yourself, you son of a fornicating Kackbad.”

“You’ll find we’re good with all sorts of animals,” the one holding her legs replied. This sent her into another round of colourful expletives and struggling.

“Leave her alone Baxter,” the cold, somewhat muffled voice came from behind her.

“Nose hurt does it Tenset?  Let me know if your balls ever fall back out of your arse, and I’ll stick ’em back up there again.”

Chesara took a little pleasure in the fact he that he sounded so nasal, her head butt must have gotten him good and proper, that and his aching balls should give him a little more respect for her.

She was pulled upright, her arms still restrained behind her back, but far enough away from any of them that she couldn’t do any damage with feet or head.

When she finished struggling, she looked up to see a visibly upset Tenset, who was still dabbing at his nose with a small cloth, standing beside a coldly smiling Lord Tamas.

“You see my dear nephew, blood always proves true. I told you that you couldn’t expect an animal such as this to behave in a civilized manner. Although you did seem to enjoy your little training session last night from what I heard.”

Chesara saw red, no longer coherent enough to say anything, she screamed and struggled just like the animal they’d accused her of being. The two guards were having trouble holding her without suffering injuries as she thrashed and tried to bite, scratch and kick anything to cause further damage.